Dating Apps Geared for Workaholics
The newest trend in the business world has nothing at all to do with business. The latest business trend is dating apps geared toward busy business professionals, with developers around the globe hoping to solve the conundrum of pairing people that are traditionally too busy to get out into the dating world.
After covering the newest app of this type, the emails began rolling in from dozens of companies asking us to consider their similar offering, so we’ve rounded up five of the most interesting below that focus on connecting business professionals.
1. Ahead
Ahead is very much like LinkedUp. It introduces you to professionals in your area and then allows you to anonymously “like” or “pass” on your recommendations. If your match also presses “like” you can then chat with them right inside the app; no need to divulge your personal contact information right away. While this app is used for dating, it is also being used to find new contacts, business partners, and outsourcing contacts.
It is available for both iOS and Android users.
2. We Pair You
We Pair You is a bit like matchmaker meets Tinder meets networking. Instead of filling in your answers about yourself into blank data fields, you will speak with a real person. When you sign up you will complete a quick ten minute phone call, so the We Pair people can get a better idea of who you are. Then each month We Pair matchmakers send you matches from their database. They will continue to work with you until you find your ideal match. We Pair You is available only through the web site.
3. Twine
While Weave is not directly aimed at business professionals; it is rapidly becoming a meeting place for like-minded individuals. Instead of filling out an endless form of questions about yourself and your background, Twine asks you to create a photo collage of your interests: turning dating completely visual. Users can browse different personality collages and if they mutually like one another’s collections, the application reveals their profile pictures. Each person can then accept or ignore the invite. Twine hopes this will take the focus off surfing an endless stream of profile pictures and help users connect on a deeper level. Many collages include business related pictures, allowing users to connect on several different levels. Twine will also connect with Facebook, if you desire. It is available to iOS users only.
4. Weave
Weave works a bit differently than other apps. Once you download the Weave app, check-in at an airport, coffee shop, conference, work, convention center, or anywhere else you are open to meeting another person. You can then anonymously “meet” or “pass” on professionals that have checked in to the same location, or nearby. If someone also wants to meet, you can connect right away, or arrange to meet at another time. This one is a bit like speed dating, relative to your location. Weave is available for iOS and Android users.
5. Coffee Meets Bagel
If you are feeling overwhelmed with the number of matches you get each day, this app will simplify it for you. Once a day at noon, the Coffee Meets Bagel app sends you one potential match (or “bagel”), and you have 24 hours to say yes or no. If it’s a mutual “like,” then you will be connected via a text message or a phone call. The app also uses Facebook to connect you with potential matches, which have mutual friends. This could lead to a plethora of business-related matches, depending on your contacts and your friends’ contacts; according to the company, having mutual friends between matches result in 40% more connections. This app is currently available only for iOS users, but they have an Android app in development.
The takeaway
While these apps do offer many benefits of meeting new contacts both for professional purposes and personal, there are a few drawbacks. If a relationship goes awry, it could impact your professional life, since many business professionals share contacts and networks. For many people it is a good idea to keep their work and personal lives separate, for others, it is not an issue. What do you think? Have you tried any of these apps?
